New proposals for foreign visitors

A draft law was proposed on Tuesday to slash the shortest term for residential certificates for foreign employees by half, from the current 180 days to 90 days.

Zhang Bailin, deputy director of the National People's Congress Law Committee, said the change was put forward because "some foreigners who come to China for a temporary job will only stay for less than half a year".

The change was made in the third reading of a draft law on exit and entry administration, which was tabled for the National People's Congress Standing Committee to review at their bimonthly session from Tuesday to Saturday.

The draft also proposed raising the financial penalty for companies that give foreigners illegal invitation letters, amid China's ongoing efforts to curb illegal aliens.

The proposal, if passed, will lift the threshold to 5,000 yuan ($790) from 2,000 yuan, for companies and institutions that provide fake certificates or invitation letters to unqualified foreigners. The clause also requires companies to cover the cost of deportation for foreigners.

Standing laws in China give no details on the financial punishment for companies who issue fake certificate and invitations to help unqualified foreigners to apply for a visa or a visa extension.

During the previous two reviews, the draft has suggested introducing a new category of visas, named "talent visas", in a bid to attract more foreign experts.

It would also empower public security officers to collect biological data from foreigners to improve the management of the increasing number of expatriates in China.